Saving Courtney (Bryant Station Curves Book 4) by Rayne Rachels Page B

weird.”
    “He stalked you. What did the police say?”
    “Because he hadn’t done anything to me, and he hadn’t attempted to contact me, they said their hands were tied. They also told me I could take out a restraining order, but those things are just a piece of paper and I didn’t think it make any difference.”
    ‘That’s so ridiculous! You have to be killed before the police will do anything. Why are they like that?” She folded her arms across her abdomen and slowly shook her head. “It doesn’t make any sense.”
    “I don’t understand the system either. I’ve never felt so helpless.” Courtney’s voice became toneless and lower in volume.
    “You know Todd and Harrison will protect you, but you have to talk to them. Tell them what’s going on.”
    “I know I should tell them, but it’s complicated.”
    Joy put her hands on her hips and looked at Courtney. “It’s only complicated because you’re making it that way.”
    Courtney looked at Joy for a few seconds before her shoulders slumped and she looked down at the counter. “I don’t have physical proof, but I know Jared killed Hagen, my brother.”
    Joy covered her mouth with her hands. She blinked several times. “Why do you think he did it? How did he do it?”
    Courtney took a deep breath and let it out. “Somehow he made Hagen’s car wreck look like an accident. The police said Hagen just drove straight into the tree. They called it an accident instead of suicide because a couple of the officers working the case didn’t want to tarnish Hagen’s service records with a suicide. They were ex-marines.” Courtney looked at Joy. “I know Hagen. He would not have committed suicide. I know Jared had something to do with it, and it’s because of me.”
    “Why is the guy even stalking you?”
    “I honestly don’t know why he is stalking me.” Courtney took another deep breath. Her hands trembled. “But from the first time I saw him, I knew he was evil.”
    “Are you okay?”
    Courtney glanced at Joy. She saw concern etched on her face. Courtney nodded. “One day, I stopped by the bookstore that was at the end of the block from the bakery I worked at in Amarillo. There was nothing out of the ordinary about me stopping at the bookstore. I usually stopped there once or twice a week after work.”
    “You like to read?”
    “Yeah.” Courtney gave her a quick smile. “Anyway, I was looking at books on one of the aisles toward the back of the store, when he walked up. I felt someone staring at me just before this oily blackness swept around me. It was like a cold blanket of anger and hate. I’ve never felt anything like it before.” Courtney put the last of the cookie dough balls on the second tray. She picked up one of the large trays and started to pick up the second one.
    “Let me grab that one.” Joy grabbed the second tray and followed Courtney. They put the trays of cookie dough into the oven. As soon as she closed the oven door, Courtney set the timer. She stepped over to the sink and washed her hands.
    “What do you mean by an oily blackness?” asked Joy.
    “You can smell emotions, right?” asked Courtney as she dried her hands.
    “Scent is a big thing with shifters. Every person has his or her own unique scent. Each of us is attracted to the unique scent of the one who is our destined mate, or mates in some cases. And you’re right about emotions. They all have unique scents too.”
    “Since I’m not a shifter, I can’t smell the different scents like you can, but people have auroras around them which I can see. Sometimes an aurora is so strong, I can actually feel it.”
    “Interesting.” Joy picked up the empty cookie dough bowl and dropped it into the sink. “Do you know where this ability comes from?”
    “I have no clue, but it really puts a damper on dating though.” Courtney wrinkled her nose.
    “I know what you mean.” Joy laughed. “Some of the scents guys give off when they get you alone are